Pipe (Stillson) Wrench Restoration

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hi Joe! Those 36" American wrenches always fetch big bucks! I guess because it has the built in cheater bar! 😉. My favorite quote of this video is "I buy it, I use it, they don't give me S#%t". 😂😂😂. Awesome stuff! Thanks!!!!

[@felixf5211]

Locally, few folks seem to be interested in pipe wrenches. Vises, too. That's a good thing! :)

[@michaelpugh4894]

Big pipe wrench and a beautiful restoration.

[@joeheilm]

Thanks Michael! Quality tools always clean up nice. Cheers

[@felixf5211]

Agree; pairs work best. I collect pipe wrenches, among other tools. The 36" Armstrong is my biggest. Hoping to find a 48" one day. Have a bunch of Stillsons (the brand), too - 6"-24". Pretty impressed with the steel they used on the early versions. As for protection, it's either BLO or paint. FWIW, I found that shooting a couple of coats of clear on top of the base color adds significantly to the paint's durability after baking for a few days. Enjoyed the video.

[@mikesillett1481]

Hello Felix F, Joe's Shop advised I should make an inquiry with you since you have many pipe wrenches. I have a small wood handled 6" Stillson pipe wrench missing the nut. In trying to find a nut for it I started to wonder if other manufacturer's pipe wrenches - of the same size - would be able to have their nuts fit my Stillson. That way I could buy any number of 6 inch pipe wrenches for their nuts. Do you know if there is any commonality in pipe wrench nuts - such as putting a Rigid nut on a Stillson, etc., etc.? Mike

[@TheCowgirlNiamh]

Great job! I love project farm too ☺️

[@mainegrange2464]

That was satisfying. A beautiful tool.

[@joeheilm]

Thanks! Cheers

[@lexxistillson1790]

I'm named after a wrench. Dope

[@joeheilm]

🤣🤣👍👍🔧🔧🔧

[@marcmckenzie5110]

Great project - I'd love to get my hands on a giant wrench like that as a project. Paint choice couldn't be better, and the polish contrast on the two sections of the arm are pretty neat. Joe, I don't see very many other tool restoration videos where they fold in a little welding and its something I'm very curious about (what can and cannot be fixed with welding - including skills and different types of welding). Down the road, I can't decide if I want to take the leap into learning that set of skills and tools, or your next topic - a small metal lathe. Better to have a lot to tackle than nothing to learn!

[@joeheilm]

Thanks Marc! I like that paint color on old tools. Welding can be tricky when it comes to youtube videos. On other channels, I have seen people get ripped in the comments on how they are doing everything wrong (welding wise), according to the pros. Luckily for me, I have good viewers/subscribers, consequently, the comments I receive are constructive and go a long way in terms of helping me learning new skills. Anyway, I am glad you liked the project. Thanks for comments. Cheers

[@Rusty_ok]

In the oil field the pipe wrench is known by its size. As in “bring me the 36 and the cheater” everyone has at least a 24 or two but those that are oil field for a living all carry a 36 in the cross box in the back of the truck. In 30 years in the oil patch I have may have seen a few 36’s bent but only one broken. Used properly they are nearly indestructible. They hooked a chain from the handle on the 36 to the bumper of a 3/4 ton pickup. Next time you weld up a crack use your grinder to cut a little V in the crack so your weld has more surface area.

[@jusb1066]

they make them up to 72 inch, ive had one, super heavy, will undo a lot of things with its own weight

[@charliewillis8527]

Joe i have just got a pair of 36" Record stillisons with the flat bar spring arrangement do you know if it should have two on it i cant see a hole were it would have been attached. They are in good order i only paid £20 for them with a pair of 36" chains they just need to be cleaned up and painted regards Lee from the little pond

[@joeheilm]

Hi Lee. If i recall correctly there is only one spring. I bet the patent drawings could tell you for sure. Cheere

[@charliewillis8527]

@@joeheilm Thanks Joe do you know how old they would be appreciated your advice

[@joeheilm]

Hi Charlie alloy artifacts is a great web site. I did a quick search for Stillson wrenches and they appear to date back to the 20s. I'll paste in a link alloy-artifacts.org/bonney-forge-tool.html#bonney-pipe-10in

[@shahidsk8579]

Great job sir

[@mikesillett1481]

I have a little 6 inch Stillson pipe wrench with a wood handle that is missing the nut. Any idea where I can get a nut or if there is a nut that will work that you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot or such? Mikel

[@joeheilm]

I would guess that you will need to steal a nut from another tool. I do not know if there is any comminality in thread pitch for pipe wrenches. My only stillson wrench is 36" and i do not have another brand 36" wrench to compare it to. Consequently, i am no help, sorry. Cheers

[@joeheilm]

You could try messaging Felix (in the comments) it sounds like he has several stillson wrenches that he could check if pipe wrench nuts are interchangable....its worth a shot. Let me know if you figure anything out. Thanks

[@RossTFarnsworth]

I love Stillson pipe Wrenches, I am always looking for Walworth, they made the original Stillson Pipe wrench. Invented by Dan Stillson. I must have over 20 of them, I am looking for a 54" at a low price to restore, LOL.

[@joeheilm]

54" Wow! I couldn't imagine lugging that around all day. If I get wind of someone that has one i'll let you know. Cheers

[@davidmelton7574]

Found a 18 inch under a house. Me and my dad cleaned it up this weekend it still has a little red paint on it

[@Taylor-xh8uh]

Look at old tool bins at tractor shows I found a 48 inch Ridgid pipe wrench for 3$

[@КошмарКошмар-й2б]

Very good restoration 🔥🔥👍👍👍

[@joeheilm]

Thanks! Cheers

[@tonylenge424]

That,s allot of steel. How did you punch out the pin? Did you have grind one side flat?

[@joeheilm]

I could tell someone before me had driven the pin out. Consequently, i didn't have to grind anything, i just drove it out with a drift. I would bet that from the factory it would have been flared out, like a rivet.

[@KpyCkuT]

Bravo !!! 👏🍺👍

[@MrFlashx1]

The broken part was available as a spare part once (I don't know if they still are) as they often broke

[@joeheilm]

That is very interesting...thanks for the comment. Cheers

[@mjeffersky]

Nice restoration ... BUT I think I would be wearing actual shoes in that environment.

[@joeheilm]

Lol, you are right..it is a bad habit. Cheers

[@johnfix1]

Nice repair and restoration on that big-ass wrench. I could have used that on a recent plumbing repair to take off a 50 year old fitting.. I had to use a 24" and a cheater bar. I would like to have one of your stickers. If you will e-mail me your address I will send you one of my stickers and my address..

[@johnfix1]

My e-maid address is [e-mail]

[@joeheilm]

@@johnfix1 i sent you an email. Cheers

[@geoffpriestley7001]

I had a pair of 48 ins phosphor bronze for working on live gas untill some one stole them probable for the scrap value

[@joeheilm]

Oh no!!! I am all for scrapping junk metal, but people who scrap tools and working machines should be locked up. I bet they were awesome looking. Anyway, sorry to hear that. Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment. Cheers

[@Taylor-xh8uh]

You didn't stop those cracks you need to drill a hole in the ends then weld it

[@jusb1066]

yep these dont break or bend under any normal use, but ive seen scaffold bars used as cheaters or sledgehammers used on them, they are tougher than need be, but nothing is unbreakable, just apply a bigger idiot.

[@alexisramirezbedolla6638]

Que desorden en tu taller